City officials did not return calls about whether the complaints were investigated or whether more complaints are under review. The complaints were released after a public-records request.

Employees' names were redacted in the complaints, with most of them filed after a mid-April vote of no confidence in Hughes supported by about 78 percent of police staff.

Staff continued to file complaints as a state Department of Public Safety detective conducted a probe at Surprise officials' request.

Hughes, who spent nearly nine years as Surprise chief, resigned Aug. 13. His resignation came after controversy involving his leadership, including a video he made for his church that involved an actor in police uniform and use of a police SUV.

Complaints about former chief

At least 15 complaints were made to Human Resources about former Surprise Police Chief Dan Hughes in recent months, including some from employees filing more than one complaint. A city spokesman said some complaints remain under investigation and did not specify whether those complaints were released to The Republic.

The city redacted the names of those who filed complaints. Most were submitted after a vote of no confidence in the chief's leadership was made public April 15.

April 7: A sergeant wrote that Hughes approached him and an officer in the department break room and brought up an upcoming vote on the chief's leadership. Hughes asked the officer how he planned to vote. A second officer later told the sergeant that the chief had come to him as he typed a report and said he had learned of the vote. The chief, the officer wrote, mentioned that officer had received lesser discipline for a greater offense than officers who were fired and reinstated by a Personnel Appeals Board.

April 11: The second officer wrote that he believed Hughes brought up his disciplinary issues because he was "attempting to manipulate and provoke me into some type of action against other officers and peers." The officer said the chief had previously confronted him to make him feel "that I am indebted to him or obligated to be loyal towards him."

April 12: A sergeant wrote that Hughes approached him about a potential promotion to lieutenant and mentioned that he had decreased a suspension the sergeant received in 2006 from five days to three days. Soon after, the sergeant said, Hughes asked if he had heard about the vote of no confidence.

April 13: The first officer allegedly approached by the chief wrote that he felt "awkward, minimized and intimidated" by Hughes' questions about the vote of no confidence.

April 21: A civilian staff member wrote that she believed the chief's use of department gear in a video created for his church violated city policies. She said the chief had "regular meetings at the Police Department with his command staff and a church group." She said this sent "a clear message: belong to his church if you want to promote or you risk being targeted for retaliation."

April 28: One of two officers reinstated by the Personnel Appeals Board wrote that he believed the chief had taken retaliatory action against him by placing him on a Performance Improvement Plan after he received retraining for policies he allegedly violated. The officer said the move was "a blatant attempt to ruin my career."

May 6: Another sergeant wrote that he had previously been promoted to lieutenant and told he needed to complete a bachelor's degree. He completed a degree. In 2007, the sergeant said he was "forced to demote" after he was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan and accused of not answering a phone call. The sergeant said the chief later promised to make it up to him. In 2008, the sergeant was named acting lieutenant but those without bachelor's degrees were allowed to apply for lieutenants' positions. The sergeant was not promoted.

May 12: An officer wrote that he issued a traffic citation in 2008 to a Surprise councilman on the Friday that Hughes' police gear was stolen while he worked out at a gym. He said his sergeant called him on Sunday to ask if he could dismiss the ticket because the chief "need(ed) a favor." The sergeant said the chief asked him to make the call, the officer alleged. He refused to dismiss the ticket.

June 2: A lieutenant wrote that Hughes approached him in a "threatening and harassing manner" and poked him in the chest in front of others after the lieutenant requested a meeting with the Human Resources director to discuss his pay. The lieutenant said that on many occasions he and others have "had to endure rants, hot and cold emotional states for such meaningless and trivial situations."

June 3: A lieutenant wrote that Hughes yelled at him and called him "(expletive) stupid" when they discussed a monthly requirement that officers issue 10 traffic citations in the presence of subordinates. He said the chief also approached him about the church video and appeared to become angry when the lieutenant said he did not support it.

June 7: In a second memo, the same lieutenant wrote that the chief had promised he could keep his K-9 dog if he was promoted to sergeant in 2005 but Hughes "refused to answer questions or even make eye contact" when he raised the issue during a meeting. He said the chief was visibly "annoyed" in 2009 when he refused to attend training that would require a daily two-hour commute for 10 weeks due to family concerns.

June 9: A civilian staffer wrote that Hughes in 2007 referred to her and two other employees who were Hispanic as the "three amigos" and that later that year, made what she believed to be offensive comments about a Virgin Mary statue.

June 9: Another civilian staffer made the same allegations as the other employee. She also wrote that the chief had pointed his finger at her and said in a loud voice, "I'm going to personally hold you responsible," after an officer entered an unauthorized evidence area when supervisors weren't present.

July 8: The civilian employee who made a complaint in April wrote that the chief was avoiding eye contact with her by putting a paper in front of his face or turning another direction, and twice glared at her. She also wrote that she felt there was a "target on her back" every time she came to work and said she had started to feel sick as a result.